Help — in the form of cash — coming for beleaguered merchants of Oakdale’s Third Avenue
The Oakdale City Council voted Monday to provide $100,000 for business owners harmed by the Third Avenue streetscape project.
They can apply for grants of up to $10,000 each to help with losses resulting from the construction, which began in May. It has completely torn up the roadway in the 100 block of North Third, leaving narrow paths for pedestrians. The work also has reduced parking in that part of downtown.
“There’s no foot traffic, really,” boutique owner Tiffany Trunnell said after the 5-0 vote. “I would say we are down 90%.”
The payments will come from part of the COVID-19 relief money Oakdale received from the federal government. It had been earmarked for local nonprofits that could not hold fundraising events during the pandemic, but that need has waned, City Manager Bryan Whitemyer said.
Brick pavers, benches and more
United Pavement Maintenance, based in Hughson, is doing the project on a $2.42 million contract. It will widen sidewalks in a few spots to ease pedestrian crossings. The asphalt roadway will give way to brick pavers. Benches and upgraded landscaping will be added. Water and other utility lines will be redone.
The project was expected to be done in September, but it could last a few weeks longer due to unexpected gas line replacement by PG&E, Whitemyer said. He plans to ask the utility to help with the financial aid.
The block has 16 businesses and no vacancies, a testament to Oakdale’s success in downtown revival. They include four boutiques, two hair salons, a bakery, a dry cleaner, a jeweler, a frame shop, a real estate agent, an air-conditioning contractor and a bank. Food and drink await at Roberts Ferry Gourmet, the Redwood Cafe and Suzey Belen’s Mexican Food & Bar.
Trunnell owns Boutiques at Tiffany’s, which rents space to numerous vendors, and MadMack Boutique, which has moved into her other building for the duration of the project.
Bakery looks to holidays
The slowdown forced the Moss Rose Bakery to close in June, with an expected reopening in September. Owner Randy Raduechel said Monday that he now expects to stayed closed until early November. He will reopen then, with or without full access, because the business depends heavily on Thanksgiving and Christmas orders.
The city staff has planned the streetscape project over about five years and held several meetings with merchants about the expected impacts. It is funded by a separate part of the federal pandemic money, Oakdale’s share of fuel taxes, and money devoted to repair of water lines, sewer lines and streets.
The aid is available to businesses on Third between E and F streets, or within 300 feet of this roadway segment. They must apply by 5 p.m. Sept. 9.
The applications will be screened by a committee made up of Whitemyer, Mayor Cherilyn Bairos, Councilman Christopher Smith and Trisha Brown, CEO of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce. The full council could vote Sept. 13 on the recommended grants.
This story was originally published August 31, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
